CMS Includes Oklahoma in Electronic Health Records Program

CMS Includes Oklahoma in Electronic Health Records Program

Article excerpt

Federal and state government health officials said on Monday
Oklahoma was one of 12 states selected for a Medicare electronic
health records demonstration project that will reimburse doctors up
to $58,000 and practices up to $290,000 for switching over to an
electronic system.

As many as 1,200 doctors and primary care practices in the U.S.
will be eligible for Medicare incentives if they choose to
participate in the program.

Four of the states will begin the program this year. Oklahoma is
in the second tier and is expected to begin in fall 2009.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acting Director
Kerry Weems and Oklahoma Health Secretary Michael Crutcher made the
announcement at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Russell Kohl, who has a family practice in Vinita, said
electronic health records are worth the investment.

"When I started my practice, I invested over $70,000 in
electronic medical records," he said. "When I started there were no
financial rewards other than the efficiency of the office and
quality of care."

Kohl said he's estimated that paper charts cost $4 over time.
"Those add up. Having electronic records allows me to see that I'm
doing a better job," he said. "Without them, I'd normally be using
3x5 cards or trying to keep Excel spreadsheets."

Efficiency and fewer mistakes is the goal of the program. Weems
said the program will reduce errors and improve health outcomes for
3.6 million Americans.

Melissa Johnson, director of health care policy for the Oklahoma
State Medical Association, and Craig Jones, president of the
Oklahoma Hospital Association, said the payoff in electronic health
records doesn't come in the form of money, but instead, comes in the
form of accuracy and performance. …